Burning food blamed for sprinkler set-off

SAN DIEGO — Burning food at an East Village affordable housing project Saturday touched off overhead sprinklers that caused an estimated $250,000 in damage, fire officials said.

No one was injured in the small kitchen fire that broke out about 2:50 p.m. in a third-floor unit at Villa Harvey Mandel. The 6-story residential project is at 17th Street and Imperial Avenue, part of St. Vincent de Paul Village.

A San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatcher firefighters believe food left unattended on the stove caught fire and flames began to spread, setting off the sprinkler system. The flames were out before firefighters got there.

Residents left as their rooms turned soggy. Apartments on the third floor sustained water damage, as did units on the two lower floors, the dispatcher said.